In a push to accelerate the movement of high-value horticultural produce from Anantapur district, Collector O. Anand has urged the Guntakal Railway Division to introduce a dedicated daily freight service from Tadipatri to New Delhi and Mumbai. The request was made during a meeting with Divisional Railway Manager Chandrasekhar Gupta and senior railway officials at Guntakal on Wednesday.
The Collector highlighted that Anantapur has emerged as one of India’s leading horticulture regions, with production witnessing a sharp and sustained rise in recent years. The district produced 19.22 lakh metric tonnes of bananas, sweet oranges, mangoes, pomegranates and watermelons across 72,018 hectares, he said. Of this output, 10.70 lakh metric tonnes were supplied to northern States and 1.87 lakh metric tonnes were exported internationally, generating a total value of ₹3,470 crore.
Anand said the district’s overall potential is even larger, noting that 1,10,324 hectares are currently under fruits, vegetables, spices, flowers and other high-value crops. However, the absence of a regular and reliable freight link is limiting growth opportunities for farmers and exporters.
A daily cargo train from Tadipatri, he argued, would significantly cut transit time, reduce logistical bottlenecks and ensure that perishable produce reaches major consumption centres in better condition. Improved connectivity to Delhi, Mumbai and other northern markets would also help deepen buyer networks and create more stable demand for the district’s horticulture output.
The Collector appealed to the Railways to view the proposal as a critical enabler for rural economic development and assured full cooperation from the district administration in supporting the initiative.
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